ROCKFORD — As far as Antar Baker is concerned, teenagers and young adults are being “scapegoated” as the root of Rockford’s crimes.

“We know that is not true because you cannot blame the youth of the society for the society’s problems. The youth are reacting to their circumstances.”

Baker made his comments moments before the start of a community forum Saturday attended by 25 people at Kingdom Authority International Ministries, 518 N. Court St.

The forum was hosted by the Rev. Melvin Brown, pastor of the church, and Baker, a member of a fledgling grass-roots organization called Justice for Our Children.

“We have parents whose children are in the juvenile justice system. We have parents whose children are criminalized in school, and they have no voice,” Baker said.

“We want them to know there is a group and an organization who is concerned about them and is willing to defend them and is willing to help them deal with injustices in the society.”

Brown spoke critically of the justice system and encouraged people to document and file their complaints with state and federal offices. He also advised parents to tell their children to not run when confronted by police.

Barmore, 23, was unarmed when he ran from police and was later shot in the vicinity of children when he struggled with the officers.

Brown’s wife and daughter, who were at the church at the time, did not agree with the officers’ version of events leading up to the shooting. They were convicted on charges of contempt of court when they kept their out-of-town Christmas vacation plans and failed to appear to testify to a grand jury.

The conviction was overturned this spring by the state appellate court, which ruled that Chief Judge Joseph McGraw abused his discretion, saying the refusal to grant a delay was “arbitrary and unreasonable.”